Just like a year ago, there is plenty of attention this MLB offseason on a talented crop of free-agent shortstops.

Only this class might be even better than the last one. It includes Dansby Swanson, Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa (again) and Trea Turner, one of the fastest players and best contact hitters in baseball.

You will read this part a ton throughout the piece. Turner wants to return to the East Coast, where he won a World Series with the Washington Nationals. But there will be teams across the country vying for his services, and we all know money talks.

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With that in mind, here are the top free-agent landing spots for Trea Turner.

 

Miami Marlins

Turner addresses obvious needs the Marlins have at shortstop and offensively. The Marlins' shortstop position was bottom seven in wRC+ last year. As a team, they had the fourth-lowest OPS.

This seems like the least likely place Turner ends up, given Miami's unwillingness to spend big bucks on top free agents.

Turner is widely considered the best among a crew of superstar free-agent shortstops in back-to-back offseasons. In other words, over two offseasons when teams could sign players Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story and Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner makes a case for the best one.

Among shortstops, his 14.0 rWAR since 2020 ranks first.

Now, it's just a question of how serious the Marlins are about becoming a serious franchise. Pursuing the South Florida native would be a nice step.

 

Baltimore Orioles

Unlike the Marlins, the Orioles actually have some talent already at shortstop. It just pales in comparison to what they could have in Turner.

The Orioles made a remarkable turnaround last season, going from 52 wins in 2021 to 83 wins in 2022. That's the kind of improvement that makes an impression on free agents. There's no way the Orioles would have been in this conversation a year ago.

But as it stands, Baltimore could be a real threat in the AL East next season, either as a division winner or wild card, especially with Turner.

Their 2022 success was largely achieved without household names—unless you count young players like rookie Adley Rutschman, who is certainly on his way to stardom.

Adding Turner would signal a true change in organizational trajectory for the Orioles.